(Lewis) Lauritz Christian Monsen

In the 1865 Kristiansand census he is listed as an able seaman (matros) and is living with his parents with his wife and oldest son Andreas. He is described as a lodger (Logerende) at Ø. 28de Qvartal http://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no/ft/person/pf01038173006227

He listed as a sailor (Sømand), boatswain (Baadsmand ) in the 1875 Kristiansand census where he and his family are his parents' "tenants" (Leieboer) at house Henrik Wergelandsgt. 104 http://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no/en-gb/ft/person/pf01052210006716

from Nancy Berg'smemories at http://www.kittymunson.com/Munson/byNancyBerg.htm

Bedstefar (Lauritz Monsen) also was a devoted son. When his mother rose in the dark winter mornings to go to work, he would get up to accompany her and then go home for breakfast and school.

excerpts from http://kittymunson.com/Munson/BestafabyAlex.htm

Bestafa Munson had a bewiskered face in a massive head set on massive shoulders. He was as strong as an ox. He spent the early part of his life as a ship’s carpenter, sailing the deep blue sea.

On fishing boats, he made many trips to the Lofoton Island fishing grounds. It was a cold, dangerous, and rough sea in the Lofoton, off northern Norway. ....

Bestafa was my father’s father, my paternal grandfather. He came to America and worked as a carpenter until he had saved enough to send for his family. He had rented a modest home in Brooklyn. He had a big family. ....

Bestafa had an accident on a trolley car when he was 80 years old. The trolley was an open trolley with a long running board on the right side running from front to back of the car. Similar to the cable cars at San Francisco with the motorman in front.

The car was not crowded. It was early afternoon. Bestafa sat in a seat near the right side. It was a long seat that reached from side to side without any aisle.. The car was moving pretty fast. Perhaps it was the motorman and conductors last trip of the day. The car hit a switch too fast and jumped the track. Bestafa was thrown out of the car. He landed on his head and shoulder.

The conductor ran to help him up and to find out if he was hurt.

Bestafa just got up shook himself decided to walk the last few blocks. "I’m all right," he told them, as a crowd began to gather. He died several years later, and only then did the doctors discover that he had suffered a broken skull. However his eyesight and hearing began to fail after that.

see http://kittymunson.com/Munson/munsons.html and http://kittymunson.com/Munson/BestafabyAlex.htm for more information